Automatic emergency safety control



July 8, 1941. RUST I 2,248,511

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY SAFETY CONTROL Filed Dec. 21, 1938 46 r J a 32 45 i 1 1 52 36 a .50 I 39 33 2 5/ 25 2 l WM 3 38 g34 c 46 4? 49 27 Y 7 Us? 48 29 s? j Patented July 8, 194 1 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFlCE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY SAFETY CQNTROL Russell Rust, Lynchburg, Va.

Application December 21, 1938, Serial No. 247,124

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an emergency control circuit for use in lighting systems, alarm systems, parallel electrical machinery operation and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means in an electric lighting circuit whereby in the event of a break, such as the blowing of a fuse or disrupting of the main lighting circuit, the current will be automatically shunted through an emergency circuit to immediately light the lights or cause the normal operation of the electrical devices connected in the main circuit to be resumed. Interruption of the circuit may be accidental, as where a fuse is caused to blow through normal use, or where some fault occurs in the circuit which may not result in a short sufficient to overload the circuit; or it may be intentional, as where an unauthorized person throws the main lighting switch for nefarious purposes.

Another object of the invention is to ensure adequate fuse protection in electric lighting and like circuits.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means in an alarm system, or means functioning as an alarm system in conjunction with an ordinary lighting circuit, whereby in the event the main circuit is broken by an unauthorized person as by throwing the main switch at the panel board, or is otherwise disrupted intentionally, a watchman or other individual may at will throw a switch and shunt the line current through an emergency circuit and cause the lights to go on, or this operation may be rendered automatic simply by permitting the switch to emergency circuit connected up in an alternate arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a further diagram showing the circuit adapted for use with an automobile or vehicle lighting system.

Referring to the drawing in detail and to the diagrams thereof in respective order, in Fig. 1 the main circuit is shown as a lighting circuit and includes a panel board or switch box 5 in which is mounted fuse blocks 6 and 1 adapted to receive any type of fuse; and a manually operable switch 8. The power supply comes in on feeders L-I and L-2 and first passes through a meter 9. The main lighting circuit includes line III which connects through line Illa with relay coil I I; and through line Iflb with contact I2. Coacting with the contact I2 is a contact I3 which is connected through line Illc with the light circuit or load, indicated at I4. Line I 5 may be considered the return or minus side of the circuit and connects through line Ilia with coil II and through line I51) with contact I6. Coacting with contact I 6 is a contact I! which is connected through line I50 with the return side of the load I4.

The supplemental or emergency safety control circuit is tapped into th main line of the lighting circuit before the latter reaches the switch box 5, or the main switch 8 and fuse blocks 6 and I. This circuit comprises line I8, illustrated as the positive side of the circuit, which leads through fuse block I!) to secret selective control switch and thence connects through line I81) with contact 22. The return side of the line is indicated at 23?), 23a, 23' and 23 and includes contact 24 and audible signal 2|.

Contact 22 is adapted to coact with contact 25 which connects through line I00 with the positive side of the light circuit or load; and contact 24 coacts with contact 26 which connects through line I with the return sid of the light circuit or load.

Relay coil II and contacts I2, I3; I6, ll; 22, 25 and 24, 26 may form part of a relay unit of any desired or conventional type. In the relay as illustrated, contacts 22, I2, I6 and 24 are mounted on an insulated block for movement in unison when the relay is thrown, the coil being energized when the main lighting circuit is functioning normally and holding contacts I2, I3 and I6, I! closed.

In operation, let it be assumed that the selective control switch 20 is closed for automatic operation and. the parts are in the position as illustrated, the main circuit functioning normally to light the lights I4. Now, in the event switch 8 is thrown accidentally or nefariously, or one of the fuses in the fuse blocks 6, I blow, or the main lighting circuit be interrupted or broken in any other manner; then coil II will be de-energized and the main line current will be shunted through lines I8, IBa, I81); and simultaneously contacts 22, 25 and 24, 26 will close and I2, I3 and I6, I! separate, thereby immediately connecting line Ilic with line Ifib and [56 with 23b. If the system includes the audible signal or buzzer, as where it is used in an alarm system, then this signal will also sound. The action is instantaneous, and outside of a slight flicker of the lights, is not noticeable.

In Fig. 2 the circuit is shown hooked up with double relays or contactors indicated at Rl and R2. In this instance the panel board or switch boX is indicated at 21 and is provided with the conventional switch 28. The respective circuits are provided with fuse blocks 28 and 38. The main lighting circuit is through lines 32, 32a, 32b, the latter connecting through relay contacts 33 and 34 with one side 35 of the load. Line 32a also connects through lines 32c, 32d with coils 36 and 36a. The return side of the line is indicated at 31. and connects with contact 38 through 35a, contact 38 coacting with contact 39 which has connected thereto line 3711 which in turn connects with line 37'.

The emergency or safety circuit is illustrated as tapped into the main circuit adjacent the meter 42 and comprises line 43 which leads through fuse block 44 to line 43a thence through line 43b to contact 46. Contact 4'6 is adapted to engage contact 41, and when these contacts are .closed, the circuit is completed through line 430. The return side of the line is indicated at 48, 48a and 43 and has therein contacts 48 and 50 which when closed complete the circuit. The emergency circuit also includes an audible signal such as a buzzer 5| which is connected up through line 51a with contacts Mb, 510 and through the latter with line 430; also through line 51d with return line 48'. Selective control switch is provided as in Fig. 1.

In this instance, in the event some occurrence disrupts the main lighting circuit, assuming the switch 45 is closed, then the relay coil Rl will be tie-energized, permitting contacts 33, 34 and 38, 38 to separate and simultaneously the relay coil of R2 will also be de-energized, permitting contacts 46, 47; 49, and EH), 510 to close, whereupon the load will function without interruption; also audible signal will sound, or if the signal is a red light or other visible lighting unit, same will be illuminated.

In both Figs. 1 and 2 the audible signal may or may not be included, depending upon the system with which the improved circuit is utilized. tions, the improved emergency circuit permits a double fuse installation and consequently gives added insurance against interruption of the load circuit. The switch 20 in Fig. 1 or 45 in Fig. 2 may be used to advantage in a burglar alarm system or the like, in that it may be installed at a convenient point in a bed chamber, or within reach of a watchman, so that in the event the lights should suddenly go .out, the switch can be turned on and normal lighting result. Thus, where an intruder should throw the main switch of the lighting circuit and the lights suddenly go out, the switch may be thrown and the lights turned on irrespective of the intentions of the intruder. This switch may be placed at a hidden or secret position and made known only to certain persons in authority.

In Fig. 3 the improved emergency control is shown connected into an automobile lighting circuit. The main lighting circuit is illustrated as of the grounded type and comprises line 52, shown connected with the positive side of the battery 53, this line leading through the con- In addition to its numerous other funcventional car lighting switch 54, thence through fuse block 55 and line 52a to contact 5219. C0- acting with contact 5222 is contact 520 having connected thereto line 52d which connects through line 56 with head lights 56a and 5%. Connected to line 56 is line 5'! leading back to line 57a which connects with tail or rear end lights 51b and 5'lc.

The emergency circuit leads from the battery through line 59, switch 60, contacts GI, 62 and line 63 to headlight line 56. Line 63 also connects with rear tail light line 57a through lines 64 and 65.

In operation, assuming the main lighting circuit, particularly that part subjected to heat and vibration in the region of the motors, should be disrupted for any reason whatsoever, the circuit will be broken through coil 58, permitting contacts 52b, 520 to open and 6|, 62 to close,

thereby shunting the main line current through lines 53, 63, E4 and 65 into the main lighting circuit.

The drawing and foregoing description illustrate examples of how the improved emergency circuit may be adapted to certain installations. Obviously, there are circuits other than those herein illustrated with which the improved emergency circuit can be used, it being understood that the illustration and description is not to be construed as a limitation but that the invention is permitted a range of equivalents within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a main power supply or feeder circuit, a house, building or analogous circuit tapped into said main power supply to receive current therefrom and supply a load such as one or more lights or the like, said house circuit having therein one or more protective fuses, a normally open emergency circuit tapped into said house circuit in advance of said fuses and connected to the load to shunt the supply current around the house circuit to the load, and a relay connected into said house supply and emergency circuit including contacts which close the emergency circuit in the event of interruption to flow of current in the house circuit, the emergency circuit also having one or more fuses therein to thereby give double fuse protection to the system.

2. In combination, a main supply or feeder circuit, a house, building or analogous circuit tapped into said main power supply to receive current therefrom and supply a load such as a group of lights or the light, said house circuit including a panel board having thereon one or more fuses and a control switch, a normally open emergency circuit tapped into the house circuit in advance of said panel board and switch and connected to the load to shunt the power supply around the house circuit to the load, means including a relay unit operatively connected into the building circuit and emergency circuit to close the emergency circuit in the event flow of current is interrupted in the house or building circuit as by blowing of a fuse or throwing of said switch, and a switch located at a point remote from said panel board and operatively connected into said emergency circuit whereby the latter may be rendered operative or inoperative at will.

RUSSELL RUST. 

